First real project - Small chest of drawers

[Eric Schubert]

I wanted to give my wife something for the big V-day. But, we've been on a tight budget lately, so I couldn't really spend much. Since I had some wood lying around that I had bought for other purposes (but not made anything, yet), I felt it would be nice to make her something. After looking around, I settled on a smaller, simple chest of drawers. One could use this for jewelry, hobby supplies, whatever. My design was inspired by this (http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/110331/two-drawer-cherry-jewelry-chest), though I went with three drawers instead of two. And I simply worked off of the picture, making up my own plans.

The carcass is similar, though it has no arch on the bottom. It also has a different dovetail pattern. I used 3/4" poplar here.

Drawers were made with 1/4" poplar, and used a twin dovetail at each corner and a front piece to hide the ends of the tails and the drawer rails from view.

I know there are a few issues with it (e.g. small gaps around dovetails, tearout on the back side, splinters missing after planing end grain of the tails), but overall I'm quite happy with how it turned out. Especially since it's my first real woodworking project that relates to making furniture or cabinetry.

My only real concern with this piece is the drawer rails. I simply glued a strip of 1/4" poplar about 1/2" wide to the inside of the carcass on each side to support the drawers. Thinking back, I probably should have used a dado to hold these rails like the bottom of the carcass. Hopefully seasonal expansion and contraction won't break the glue bond and cause the rails to fail...

In any case, I'm going to celebrate. My first piece I can display in the house, and my wife likes it. Win-win! Plus, if the rails fall apart, it'll give me an excuse to build another one. :D

To finish it off, here are some photos throughout the process, and after assembly. I have not applied any finish, yet. I'll be staining this, then putting some type of top coat on. What's the best way to finish something like this? I've seen GF topcoats, poly, and of course I could just use paste wax. Any suggestions?

First attempt at dovetails wasn't so successful. I made the tails way too thin at the base and had one snap off. Next time I'll take the advice of wider tails and thin pins. Still, I like the look after they're assembled...

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t314/Mr_Spiffy/Woodshop/Jewelry%20Box/Broken%20Tails_zpsksbowb67.jpg

Second attempt went much better.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t314/Mr_Spiffy/Woodshop/Jewelry%20Box/Chamfered%20Tails_zpsf3pphz3g.jpg

After assembly, glue, and planing flush on the top.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t314/Mr_Spiffy/Woodshop/Jewelry%20Box/Tails%20assembled%20-%20after%20gluing_zpsptbzyr4u.jpg

Finally got to use my Stanley 78 for rabbets...yay!
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t314/Mr_Spiffy/Woodshop/Jewelry%20Box/Rabbet_zpsskgbwk3m.jpg

And my Record 044 plough plane! I love this thing!
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t314/Mr_Spiffy/Woodshop/Jewelry%20Box/Dado%202_zpsnbbl2gzb.jpg

Carcass assembly. Tails fit nice and snug, although the dado wasn't as tight as I would have liked.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t314/Mr_Spiffy/Woodshop/Jewelry%20Box/Carcass%20assembled_zpsg7k4zex7.jpg

Fully assembled.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t314/Mr_Spiffy/Woodshop/Jewelry%20Box/Jewelry%20Chest%20Assembled_zps2wp1fvfm.jpg

Inside view. Note the rails I've glued to support the drawers.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t314/Mr_Spiffy/Woodshop/Jewelry%20Box/Jewelry%20Chest%20Assembled%20-%20Open_zps6vk3aecs.jpg

[Tony Wilkins]

Looks,like a pretty successful first project. Congrats!

[Derek Cohen]

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t314/Mr_Spiffy/Woodshop/Jewelry%20Box/Tails%20assembled%20-%20after%20gluing_zpsptbzyr4u.jpg

Hi Eric

That is an excellent start.

Next time you may want to do your dovetails differently. Basically, you have reversed the pins and tails ... which is why the tail was weak and broke off.

Here is the difference ..

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Furniture/Scraping_html_m40956329.jpg

Now that it is all glued together it should be pretty strong, and no one will recognise this, only you ... and it will bring a smile :) I did this myself with a chest of drawers once upon a time.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Robert Engel]

Nice. Good touch matching the drawer front grain.

Yes, the drawer slides would be better in a dado. I would be scared if someone hit the drawer they would break off.
You've also got a xgrain glue up which is generally a no no but on a case this wide you won't have a problem.

Design-wise (this is not a criticism of you) a dado with screws through slotted holes to allow for movement would have been a better.

I also think it would look better with thinner wood, maybe 9/16 or 5/8".

[Chris Hachet]

I have done restoration work since I was a teenager and rebuilt dozens and dozens of badly damaged pieces of antique furniture. Even in a lot of "higher end" antique furniture, the dovetails are not quite as nice as what you did. Agree with Derek about the Orientation. Nice work....keep building.

Regards,

Chris

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Wow, very nice indeed....

[Eric Schubert]

Thanks, guys! I appreciate all the feedback and kind words. It always helps to get more eyes on something, even if the project went well.

I'm unsure of how I could accomplish a slotted screw with a dado this shallow, but I know what you mean, Robert. I've seen that discussed for breadboard ends and such. I agree it would be ideal, but I wasn't sure how to accomplish that here.

I also would have liked thinner wood, but this is what I had laying around and the budget didn't allow for buying more wood. Now that I've gotten a project done, I would also feel a little better about using a nicer hardwood than poplar to build something. (e.g. oak, soft maple, cherry... definitely not anything exotic, yet, though)

Have to say, it feels pretty good to finally finish up a project. Well, aside from staining it, anyway.

[Eric Schubert]

So, just to follow up on this, I've finally stained and top-coated this piece, added drawer pulls, and lined the drawers with felt. I used General Finishes Candelite gel stain and urethane Satin Gel Topcoat. White felt in the drawers.

Here's the end result:

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t314/Mr_Spiffy/Woodshop/Jewelry%20Box/Jewelry%20Chest%20-%20Finished%201_zpsg0ze4wrp.jpg

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t314/Mr_Spiffy/Woodshop/Jewelry%20Box/Jewelry%20Chest%20-%20Finished%202_zps7qnt1sht.jpg

[David Eisenhauer]

Very nice work. Keep it up and keep sending photos. Thanks for sharing.

[Jim Koepke]

All is well that ends well and this looks to have finished quite well.

jtk

[Archie England]

Nice! Great recovery...and final, finished product! I'm envious.

[Christopher Charles]

Well done! Both of you must be pleased.

[Chris Hachet]

Excellent. Please post pics of your next project as well.

[Eric Schubert]

Thanks to everyone for all the positive feedback. It certainly feels good to get a project like this under my belt. Now I just need to choose the next project.

I love seeing pictures of everyone else's projects, so I'll definitely continue sharing pictures as new projects come along.

Next priority is to wrap up work on my new bench.